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### Viewing cable 04SANAA2346, PRESIDENT SALEH TO A/S BLOOMFIELD "NO NEW MANPADS"

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04SANAA2346 | 2004-09-02 11:11 | 2010-12-03 21:09 | SECRET | Embassy Sanaa

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 002346

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2014
    TAGS: MASS MOPS OVIP PARM PINR PREL PTER YM COUNTER TERRORISM
    SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SALEH TO A/S BLOOMFIELD "NO NEW MANPADS"

    Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski; reasons 1.4 (b), (d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary. Assistant Secretary of State for Political
    Military Affairs Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. discussed proposed
    U.S. MANPADS buyback and destruction initiative with Yemeni
    President Ali Abdullah Saleh on September 1. Saleh not only
    agreed to move forward with the modalities of the buyback,
    but pledged to A/S that the ROYG would not seek to buy any
    new systems. Despite Saleh's attempt to extract more money
    out of the buyback offer, Post expects/hopes to conclude an
    agreement in the next two weeks. A/S Bloomfield's August 31
    meeting with Minister of Interior al-Alimi, Chief of Military
    Staff al Qassemi, and National Security Bureau Saleh covered
    septel. End Summary.

    ---------------------------------------------
    Saleh -- "We Have to Get Them Off the Market"
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) A/S Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. and Ambassador met
    with Yemeni President Saleh on September 1 to discuss the
    proposed U.S. MANPADS buyback initiative. Saleh welcomed A/S
    Bloomfield's visit and the MANPADS initiative, describing it
    as part of continuing U.S. - Yemeni joint security efforts in
    the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East. A/S Bloomfield thanked
    the President for his country's cooperation and partnership
    in the GWOT, emphasizing that MANPADS in particular pose a
    grave threat to U.S. and Yemeni global security interests
    should they fall into terrorist hands. Saleh readily agreed,
    adding "these weapons in the hands of al Qa'ida or Jihadists
    threaten Yemen's security forces. We have to get them off
    the market."

    ¶3. (C) A/S Bloomfield outlined the MANPADS buyback
    initiative, explaining it was a very specific proposal to
    purchase and destroy systems collected by the ROYG. In
    addition to compensation for each system, U.S. technical
    training and assistance would be provided to ensure the
    safety of MANPADS collection and transportation, and to
    conduct destruction. A/S Bloomfield stressed that there was
    a 90-day window in which to buy and destroy current ROYG
    illicit stocks, and that while the program did not have a
    time limit -- the funding was, indeed, finite.

    ¶4. (S) Saleh told A/S Bloomfield that the ROYG was
    currently in possession of 1435 MANPADS including 500 he had
    recently collected from "private people" just prior to his
    departure to London for an official visit on September 25.
    The President made clear that these systems would be offered
    up for sale and destruction according to the proposed
    initiative, adding that he estimated there were another 150 -
    200 still in private hands which the ROYG is targeted for
    collection. (Note: On August 31 A/S Bloomfield viewed 79
    recovered MANPADS stored in a MOD facility. The 1435 appear
    to be some combination of these 79, plus the other 1029
    emboffs observed in the same facility in 2003, and a number
    of other illicit systems we were unaware had been collected.
    We will seek clarification on these numbers from NSB Deputy
    Director Ammar Saleh. End Note.)

    ¶5. (C) President Saleh assured A/S he was serious about
    cutting off the possibility of MANPADS leakage from official
    stocks. He said he had given the order to collect all
    systems from the Yemeni Armed Forces in the field and return
    them to storage immediately. A/S commended the President's
    actions to get "these dangerous missiles out of dangerous
    hands," emphasizing that Yemeni MANPADS must remain under the
    lock and key of the authorities. "Actually," Saleh
    responded, "we don't need them."

    --------------------------------
    Saleh Promises No New MANPADS...
    --------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Saleh pledged to A/S Bloomfield that Yemen's
    national defense did not require MANPADS; to the contrary,
    the current crisis in Sa'da proves "it was a big mistake" to
    allow such weapons to fall into the hands of our enemies
    where they can be used against our own forces. "I assure
    you," said the President, "there will be no new deals, we
    will not trade in them." Bloomfield responded, "you have
    made a very important statement, that MANPADS are more useful
    to terrorists than to your military."

    ¶7. (S) A/S told Saleh he is engaged in ongoing discussions
    with source country governments in Eastern Europe to stop
    exporting MANPADS, but that we have indications arms dealers
    claiming to represent Yemen continue to shop in these markets
    for advanced MANPADS. Saleh advised, "You cannot prevent
    (North) Korea, China, Ukraine, Russia, or Belarus from
    producing or selling weapons. I do not believe you will be
    successful." "Although," he continued, "maybe you can
    convince them to sell through official government contracts
    and not through brokers." A/S Bloomfield agreed that
    controlling weapons production was not easy, but explained
    that arms firms in nations working with the U.S. to limit
    production of MANPADS report that Yemen remains a potential
    client. "No," replied Saleh, we do not need them."

    ¶8. (S) A/S Bloomfield asked the President "if our friends
    in Eastern Europe tell me they have a contract with Yemen,
    may I tell them 'no, you do not'"?. Saleh replied. "yes,
    tell them the contract is canceled -- stop it -- no one has a
    deal to sell such weapons to Yemen unless they talk to me."
    A/S replied that Saleh's pledge not to acquire new MANPADS
    should not be underestimated, as it would enhance Yemen's
    reputation in Washington and the international community.

    --------------------------------------
    ...In Exchange for One Million Dollars
    --------------------------------------

    ¶9. (C) "Rest assured," Saleh continued, "Yemen will not
    have such weapons anymore, but everything has a price. You
    will have to pay...one million dollars for each strela!"
    (Note: After an awkward silence, Saleh laughed, indicated he
    was exaggerating, and promised the price would come down. In
    fear some uncertainty remained, the Palace translator turned
    to A/S saying, "I feel it is my duty to make sure you
    understand this is a joke." End Note.) "How much are you
    willing to pay?" pressed the President. A/S responded that
    that the price for each MANPAD was fixed and not negotiable.
    "Fixed, but well above what we believe to be the market
    price."

    ---------------------------
    Al-Houthi - Lessons Learned
    ---------------------------

    ¶10. (S) Saleh told A/S that the recent events in Sa'da,
    (where ROYG forces are embroiled in an increasingly bloody
    fight against the well-equipped supporters of rebel Shi'ite
    cleric al-Houthi) has proven that it was a "big mistake" to
    allow these weapons to reach enemy hands. Saleh reported to
    A/S that 250 soldiers had been killed and 1000-1500 injured
    in addition to 300-350 rebels. (Note: Post believes the
    number of ROYG casualties to be much higher. End Note.)

    ¶11. (S) A/S Bloomfield replied that the U.S. was aware of
    the cost to Yemen of the recent fighting and that "this hurts
    us too." A/S told Saleh that the Embassy is looking to see
    how else we can help.

    -----------------------
    ...And the Kitchen Sink
    -----------------------

    ¶12. (S) As expected, Saleh raised extending the buyback to
    include other types of weapons. He reported that the ROYG
    has been buying back all types from the grey market since
    9/11, including SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles,
    machine-guns, anti-tank missiles, mines, RPGs, and
    explosives. "We have already paid 9 billion rials
    (approximately 49 million USD) to keep these weapons out of
    al Qa'ida hands," claimed the President we are ready to
    destroy them. We hope you will not limit the program to
    MANPADS." (Note: the ROYG claims it has collected 32 million
    USD in assorted SW/LA and is seeking to recover this expense.
    Although we doubt the claim of 32 million, we understand
    from MOD and NSB contacts that the ROYG has yet to reimburse
    the arms dealers it contracted to collect these weapons and
    Minister of Defense Alaiwa is under considerable pressure to
    make good on the deal. End Note.)

    ----------------------------
    Inventory Control Assistance
    ----------------------------

    ¶14. (S) A/S emphasized that the program on the table is
    urgent and specific; it targets several countries with large
    numbers of these dangerous systems. He stressed that the
    current proposal is for MANPADS only, and he is offering to
    buy them for significantly more than market price. "We hope
    that this important first step will be completed as soon as
    possible," said A/S, adding, that he was prepared to explore
    ways the U.S. can assist the ROYG in controlling its official
    stocks such as providing inventory controls, computer
    systems, stockpile security, and training. Saleh replied
    that he looked forward to learning the details of this
    assistance.

    -----------------------
    Give Us Our Spare Parts
    -----------------------

    ¶15. (C) Saleh complained to A/S of ongoing licensing
    difficulties which had grounded F-5's, and Augusta
    helicopters, and rendered M-60 Tanks and M109 artillery
    inoperable. "We have made request after request," he said,
    "Why doesn't the U.S. respond?" The President repeated a
    common theme, telling A/S Bloomfield that he pays a high
    political price in the region and internally for his CT
    cooperation with the U.S. "Our cooperation" he said will be
    commensurate with yours, "As much as you move, we will move."

    ¶16. (S) A/S Bloomfield responded that the USG appreciates its
    cooperative relationship with Yemen in the GWOT, and pointed
    out that, "as a demonstration of our trust, yesterday I gave
    Military Chief of Staff Qassemi a C-130 licensing agreement."
    "No, interrupted Saleh, "that is a transport plane. We need
    our F-5 in Sa'da." A/S assured the President that he would
    personally look at each Yemeni licensing request when he
    returned to Washington and would make sure that they received
    full consideration. (Note: When A/S Bloomfield handed the
    C-130 license to Chief of Staff Qassemi on August 31, the
    General said sarcastically "these few parts to a transport
    plane represent the biggest step forward in our military to
    military cooperation in years." End Note.)

    ------------------------------
    Comment: "What, Won't Haggle?"
    ------------------------------

    ¶17. (S) All joking aside, Saleh appears serious in trying
    to push up the price per system. It is hard to imagine a
    shrewd operator like the President paying more than market
    price for Strela 2's, approximately 2000 USD. It would be
    true to style for Saleh to try to extract as much possible
    from the USG in exchange for his security cooperation. On
    the margins of the meeting, NSB Deputy Director, and Saleh's
    nephew, Ammar Saleh recommended A/S Bloomfield send the
    President a follow-up letter to our meeting listing other
    benefits to Yemen that may result from the agreement, and
    urging him not to break the deal over prices that cannot/will
    not change. End Comment.
    KRAJESKI

`